Toronto, March 5, 2015
In June 2012, CDHO announced an award established in the name of past Registrar Fran Richardson to recognize her many years of service and dedication to the College. The Award is designed to honour outstanding and innovative dental hygienists who are passionate about the dental hygiene profession and who seek through education, community involvement and/or other activities to enhance their leadership abilities and to improve the quality of dental hygiene care provided to the people of Ontario.
CDHO is now accepting applications from eligible registrants for the Fran Richardson Leadership Development Award. Nomination forms and all supporting documentation must be complete and returned to the College no later than 1:00pm EST Friday, May 1, 2015.
For more information, click on the link below.

Toronto, February 26, 2015
Council meets at least three times a year to discuss regulatory policy and debate issues that influence the quality of dental hygiene care in Ontario. The meetings of the Council shall be open to the public unless the Council deems that the public be excluded from the meeting or any part of a meeting in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.
A Special Meeting of Council will be held on Friday, March 27, 2015.Location: Courtyard Marriott Toronto DowntownTime: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Toronto, February 19, 2015
In accordance with Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, the Council of the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is circulating the proposed Spousal Exception Regulation to registrants and other stakeholders for comment.Responses or comments to the proposed Spousal Exception Regulation are requested no later than 4:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
All interested stakeholders are invited to visit the College’s website to review the complete regulation and any reference documents associated with the consultation process.

Toronto, February 11, 2015
College launches Drugs in Dental Hygiene Practice: A Refresher Course in preparation of the anticipated passing of the regulation that will permit dental hygienists to prescribe, sell and dispense designated drugs. The self-study course provides an update in key aspects of recommending, prescribing, dispensing, selling and using drugs in the context of dental hygiene practice. The importance of resourcing appropriate drug reference materials and applying the information to support safe, effective client care is emphasized.

Toronto, February 9, 2015
At the first Council meeting of 2015 (February 6, 2015), Council held elections for its Executive Committee. Congratulations to Jennifer Turner (President), Catherine Ranson (Vice President), Michele Carrick, Tote Quizan and Samuel Laldin.

Toronto, December 19, 2014
The Registration Department hours over the holiday season are as follows:
- Wednesday, December 24th - 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 25th and Friday, December 26th - Closed
- Wednesday, December 31st, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 1st - Closed
Online renewals are available 24/7 throughout the holiday break.

Toronto, December 19, 2014
Did you miss out on attending one of the CDHO's Setting the Record Straight - QA Edition presentations in 2014? Did you attend one but would like to participate again? If so, you are welcome to participate in our Setting the Record Straight - QA Edition Webinar, There is no cost associated with viewing this webinar. Please note that since this is a recorded version, the interactive component of the webinar is not available. To view the webinar, click on the link below:

Toronto - December 1, 2014 - On October 4, 2014, the Hon. Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, called on all regulatory health colleges to ensure transparency in college activities. The CDHO has answered the call. Click on the link below to read the full response.

TORONTO November 25, 2014 – As many as three million Ontario adults have not seen an oral health professional in more than a year, highlighting an urgent and growing need for a provincial oral health strategy, according to a Review of Oral Health Services in Ontario released today by the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO).

You Can Now Register for the Setting the Record Straight -- QA Edition Webinar!

Did you miss out on attending one of the CDHO’s Setting the Record Straight – QA Edition presentations in 2014? Did you attend one but would like to participate again? If so, you are welcome to participate in our Setting the Record Straight – QA Edition Webinar, recorded at the October 4, 2014 presentation in Scarborough. It will be interactive and you will be able to register your choices live. There is no cost associated with participating in this WEBINAR. For more information and to register online, please click on the link below.

NEW UPDATE Regarding Ontario's Dental Hygienists and Treatment of Spouses

CDHO Council is working on a regulation that, if approved by government, would permit dental hygienists to treat their spouses. Due process must be followed before such a regulation comes into effect. It is anticipated that a draft of the proposed regulation will go out for stakeholder consultation after the next meeting of Council February 6, 2015. -

After the stakeholder consultation, the results of that consultation and a final draft of the proposed regulation will be presented on May 29, 2015 to Council for approval to submit the proposed regulation to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Until such time that the proposed regulation has been approved by the Ontario Cabinet, dental hygienists remain bound by existing legislation and are not permitted to treat their spouses. While the College has announced its intention to permit the treatment of spouses, it reminds registrants that it is bound by current legislation and will have no choice but to ensure that legislative rules are adhered to by dental hygienists. Please contact the CDHO office with questions.

Public Health Ontario has developed a screening tool intended to help dental professionals in the initial assessment and management of both symptomatic and asymptomatic returning travellers from countries/areas affected by Ebola virus disease. As the risk of Ebola virus disease in Ontario is currently low, routine screening specifically for Ebola virus disease is not currently recommended for everyone and should be limited to only those who have recently returned from countries/areas affected by the disease.

Ebola: Emergency Preparedness and Response in Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is monitoring the Ebola virus situation overseas. The ministry has also taken measures to ensure the province�s health sector is prepared should a returning traveler from a country where the Ebola virus is circulating be suspected of having the disease. On October 30, 2014 the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) issued a Directive for Acute Care Settingsconcerning precautions and procedures for Ebola virus disease (EVD).-

Health care workers and health sector employers may contact the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care�s Health Care Provider Hotline by phone at 1-866-212-2272 or by email at emergencymanagement.moh@ontario.ca with any questions or concerns about Ontario�s health system readiness for EVD.

Ontario Situational Update, as of Oct 29, 2014

- There is/are 0 person(s) under investigation where Ebola testing was recommended and results are pending.
- Since July 30, 2014, there have been a total of 11 persons under investigation for Ebola in Ontario, 11 were negative for Ebola.
- There are no probable or confirmed cases of Ebola detected in Ontario.

Council meets three times a year to discuss regulatory policy and debate issues that influence the quality of dental hygiene care in Ontario. Council meetings are open to the public.The next Council meeting will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014Location: Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville HotelTime: 9:00 a.m.Seating is limited. Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email at ndalcourt@cdho.org or by telephone at 416-961-6234, ext. 223 by Friday, October 24th to advise of attendance. For more information...

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is now accepting nominations for two academic representatives to serve on the College Council. The term of office for each academic position will be for three years (January 2015 - December 2017). Should you wish to run for academic selection, please click on the link below to download the complete nomination package. Original nomination forms and supporting documentation must be complete and returned to the College no later than 4:30pm EST Thursday, October 30, 2014.

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is currently accepting nominations for eligible registrants to serve on the College Council in the following electoral districts:
District 2 (Central Western Ontario - North) and District 3 (Central Western Ontario - South). The term of office for each electoral district will be for three years (January 2015 - December 2017). Should you wish to run for election or nominate another eligible registrant in your respective electoral district, please click on the link below to download the complete nomination package. Original nomination forms and supporting documentation must be complete and returned to the College no later than 4:30pm EST Friday, October 17, 2014.

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is now accepting nominations for eligible registrants to serve on the College Council in the following electoral districts: District 2 (Central Western Ontario - North) and District 3 (Central Western Ontario - South).
The number of registrants to be elected in District 2 is two and the number of registrants to be elected in District 3 is one.

The term of office for each electoral position will be for three years (January 2015 – December 2017).

For more information regarding the election process, eligibility to run/vote, nomination procedures, terms of office and electoral districts, please visit the College’s Elections webpage to access the complete nomination package.

Original nomination forms and supporting documentation must be complete and returned to the College no later than 4:30pm EST Friday, October 17, 2014.

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is currently in the process of composing the Elector List that will be used for the next academic selection which will include the election of two academic representatives to serve on the College Council. Eligible faculty members who wish to VOTE and/or RUN in the academic selection must be placed on the Elector List.

The deadline to be placed on the Elector List is 4:30pm EST on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.

To register for one of our fall presentations, send an e-mail with your name, registration number, the date and city of presentation you would like to attend at savemeaseat@cdho.org. Anyone not registered may not be accommodated due to space limitations. Registration closes 1 week prior to the presentation date. Click on the link below to learn more.

CDHO Council is still reviewing the issue of spousal treatment by dental hygienists and will inform registrants as soon as a decision is made as to whether the College will seek a regulation change from the Ministry. Until that time, dental hygienists remain bound by existing legislation and are not permitted to treat their spouses. CDHO recognizes the confusion that has arisen since the RCDSO’s July 10, 2014 announcement that a regulation was passed changing the legislation for dentists in Ontario. This change does not affect dental hygienists. Please contact the CDHO office with questions.

CDHO Annual Report 2013

The CDHO Annual Report 2013 is now available online. To view the Annual Report, please click on the link below.

The CDHO is conducting a comprehensive survey of dental hygienists across Ontario. You will soon receive an invitation and we are asking that you take some time to fill out this survey. The College has retained Ipsos, an independent research firm and member of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA), to conduct the study. -

Your answers, and those of your fellow dental hygienists, will form the basis for advice and guidelines to the profession and facilitate total quality improvement for the practice of dental hygiene. They will also be used to adjust the College’s Quality Assurance Program. Therefore, your participation and cooperation is essential and greatly appreciated. Be assured that the information you provide will go directly to the researchers and will be held in strictest confidence. No individual responses will be revealed to any College staff or Council Member. The data will be used for statistical and analytical purposes and presented to the College in aggregate form only. General findings will be published in the CDHO newsletter, Milestones.
Thank you in advance for your participation.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30% of these people died.
Dental hygienists should consider the possibility of MERS-CoV infection in persons with respiratory illness that meet the case definitions outlined in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Guidance for Health Workers and Health Sector Employers on MERS-CoV.
For the latest updates on the MERS-CoV virus, including the total number of cases and deaths, visit the World Health Organization’s Global Alert and Response website. In addition, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care maintains a website with information on MERS-CoV for health workers at www.ontario.ca/novelcoronavirus.Click on the link below to read the Memo from Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Council meets at least three times a year to discuss regulatory policy and debate issues that influence the quality of dental hygiene care in Ontario. Council meetings are open to the public.
The next Council meeting will be held on the following date: Friday, May 30, 2014Location: One King West HotelTime: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Space is limited. Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email at ndalcourt@cdho.org or by telephone at 416-961-6234, ext. 223 by Friday, May 16th to advise of attendance. For more information...

To register, send an e-mail with your name, registration number, the date and city of presentation you would like to attend at savemeaseat@cdho.org. Anyone not registered may not be accommodated due to space limitations. Registration closes 1 week prior to the presentation date. Click on the link below to learn more.

The College is currently accepting applications for two Non-Council members to sit on the Examinations Committee. Registrants of the College who are willing to commit time to sit on a Committee and assist in making decisions which reflect the College’s mandate to protect public interest are asked to apply. Committees meet on a weekday during regular business hours. It is estimated that the Examinations Committee might meet 2-5 times a year. Experience in education or examination administration would be welcomed but is not mandatory. For more information, click on the link below.

Council meets at least three times a year to discuss regulatory policy and debate issues that influence the quality of dental hygiene care in Ontario. Council meetings are open to the public.

The next Council Meeting will be held on the following date: Friday, January 24, 2014Location: Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville HotelTime: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Space is limited. Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email at ndalcourt@cdho.org or by telephone at 416-961-6234, ext. 223 by Friday, January 10th to advise of attendance. For more information...

Joint Communication to CDHO Registrants and ODHA Members - September 13, 2013

On September 13, 2013, both CDHO and ODHA Executive Committees, along with the ODHA Executive Director and the CDHO Registrar held a joint meeting at the ODHA offices in Burlington. Both organizations provided an operational update of the issues they are currently dealing with.

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) recently conducted an election for eligible candidates in Electoral District 5 (Central Eastern Ontario) and District 6 (Eastern Ontario) to serve on the Council of the College. A ballot package was sent to every registrant eligible to vote in their respective electoral district and election ballots were accepted by the College until 1:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

On Wednesday November 6, 2013 Bill 70, Regulated Health Professions Amendment Act (Spousal Exception), 2013 received Royal Assent. Bill 70 is a private members bill created to amend the Regulated Health Professions Act so that each health regulatory college has the authority to create a regulation that will permit it’s registrants to treat spouses.
The amendment to the Act allows colleges to decide whether or not they will allow the treatment of spouses and provides a definition of who meets the spousal criteria. Colleges will need to have a regulation in place if they intend to permit the treatment of spouses. The process for the development of a regulation is a lengthy one and will involve stakeholder consultation and government approval of the proposed regulation. The CDHO Council has not made the decision whether or not they will develop a regulation allowing dental hygienists to treat their spouses. Nothing has changed for CDHO registrants - the treatment of spouses is still not allowed. The CDHO will keep its registrants informed on this issue by updating the College website and through Milestones and the monthly e-Briefs.

Fran Richardson Leadership Development Award

In June 2012, CDHO announced an award established in the name of past Registrar Fran Richardson to recognize her many years of service and dedication to the College. The Award is designed to honour outstanding and innovative dental hygienists who are passionate about the dental hygiene profession and who seek through education, community involvement and/or other activities to enhance their leadership abilities and to improve the quality of dental hygiene care provided to the people of Ontario.
CDHO is now accepting applications from eligible registrants for the Fran Richardson Leadership Development Award 2013. Applications must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines and the criteria prescribed by the College. Original nomination forms and all supporting documentation must be complete and returned to the College no later than 1:00pm EST Tuesday, December 31, 2013.
For more information regarding the Award, eligibility criteria and/or nomination procedures, please click on the link below.

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 Bill 70, Regulated Health Professions Amendment Act (Spousal Exception), 2013 was carried on third reading. Bill 70 is a private members bill created to amend the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) so that health care providers could treat their spouse.
The bill is awaiting Royal Assent and once it receives Royal Assent, it will be considered law.
What does this mean and how is this relevant for dental hygienists?-

The proposed amendment to the Act would allow Colleges to decide whether or not they will allow the treatment of spouses. The CDHO Council will evaluate and make a decision if a regulation should be developed and until the Ministry approves a College-specific regulation that allows dental hygienists to treat their spouses, nothing has changed for CDHO registrants - the treatment of spouses is still not allowed. The process for the development of a regulation is a lengthy one and will involve stakeholder consultation and government approval.
The CDHO will keep its registrants informed on this issue by updating the College website and through Milestones and the monthly CDHO E-Brief.

The College Welcomes its First Group of Peer Mentors!

Peer mentoring is an effective, adaptable, and practical strategy for supporting the development of another less experienced dental hygienist towards authorization to self-initiate. Peer mentors volunteer their time to support their colleagues in practice. To become a peer mentor, dental hygienists must be accepted into the Peer Mentorship Program and must successfully complete a 15-hour mentorship course and a full day workshop. Our first group of Peer Mentors embraced this new role with enthusiasm and passion. Please join the College in offering congratulations to Debra Amos, Meghan Banner, Kelly Burnes, Roma Czech, Donna Czosnek, Margaret Drudge, Joanne Evenden, Jane Hurlehey, Paulina Wanda Lipska-Ishmael, Theresa Rys-Sedzicki, Jennifer Turner, Sonia Turrini, Lillian Yee, Marija Zivanovic and Susan Zylstra.

If you are interested in being mentored, you can contact a mentor via e-mail by following the link below.

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is now accepting nominations for eligible registrants to serve on the Council of the College in the following electoral districts: District 1 (Southwestern Ontario), District 5 (Central Eastern Ontario) and District 6 (Eastern Ontario). The term of office for each electoral district will be for three years (January 2014 - December 2016). The election date for each district has been set for Wednesday, November 20, 2013.

For more information regarding the elections process, eligibility to run/vote, nomination procedures, terms of office and electoral districts, please visit the College''s Elections webpage to access the complete nomination package.

Original nomination forms and supporting documentation must be complete and returned to the College no later than 4:30 p.m. EST Friday, October 18, 2013.

Ontario Superior Court finds former registrant guilty of illegally practising dental hygiene in the Ottawa area. Lisa Campbell-Rousselle resigned from the College in 2012 and later that year, the College received a report that she was practising at Marchwood Dental. The CDHO views this matter very seriously and is conscious of its mandate to protect the public. An investigation was conducted to ensure that the information received is accurate. Once it had been established that Ms. Campbell-Rousselle had practised dental hygiene illegally, the CDHO initiated civil proceedings. -

On May 29, 2013, the Judge ordered Lisa Campbell-Rousselle to refrain from (a) using the title ''Dental Hygienist'' or a variation or abbreviation or equivalent in another language; (b) holding herself out as a person who is qualified to practise in Ontario as a dental hygienist or in a specialty of dental hygiene; and (c) performing any controlled acts including scaling teeth or root planing. The Court also ordered that Ms. Campbell-Rousselle pay costs to the CDHO in the amount of $12,000.00. The CDHO is committed to ensuring that members of the public of Ontario are protected and will continue to pursue persons who illegally hold themselves out to be registered dental hygienists.

Space is limited. Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email at ndalcourt@cdho.org or by telephone at 416-961-6234 (toll-free 1-800-268-2346), ext. 223 on or before Friday, October 11, 2013 to advise of attendance. CDHO Council Meetings are open to the public. For more information...

With an increase in the number of dental hygienists opening their own practices and working in non-dentist-owned practices, the College has seen an increased number of inquiries about practice names and use of discounts and coupons. The new Guidelines for Advertising should be of special interest to dental hygienists involved in any of the multiple avenues of practice promotion. The guidelines were developed to guide and support dental hygienists in their understanding of the Advertising Regulation that has been in effect since 1994. Click on ''Read more...'' for the complete Advertising Guidelines.

Space is limited. Please contact the Office of the Registrar via email at ndalcourt@cdho.org, by telephone at 416-961-6234, ext. 223 on or before Friday, May 17th to advise of attendance. For more information...

The College is looking for dental hygienists who have been authorized to self-initiate, to mentor other dental hygienists under our mentorship program. This is a volunteer position, however, the College will provide you with free training and time spent in training and in mentoring may be used to meet your professional portfolio requirements. You would be responsible for any costs incurred to attend the training workshop.
Interested dental hygienists must be willing to complete approximately 25 hours of learning through a combination of on-line modules, self-reflective assignments and a full-day workshop (sometime this spring or summer). Workshops will be booked in locations through Ontario as determined by demand.-

Interested dental hygienists must meet the following requirements:
1. Be registered and in good standing with the CDHO.
2. Have practised clinical dental hygiene for at least 5 years.
3. Have practised while authorized to self-initiate in Ontario for a minimum of 2 years.
4. Have completed the CDHO mentorship course and workshop.
5. Be willing and able to participate in a mentoring relationship as a volunteer.
6. Have a positive attitude for the profession and its standards.
7. Be willing to have your name and contact email on the CDHO website under Find a CDHO-approved Mentor
If you are interested in being part of this exciting opportunity, please e-mail ltaylor@cdho.org with an expression of interest and a brief note explaining how you meet the criteria. Questions about the program are welcome via the same email address.

Oral Health Report

Once again this year, in preparation for Oral Health Month in April, Media Planet released an Oral Health pullout in the Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Toronto Star. This pullout was published to help educate Ontarians on the importance of oral health and the importance of taking proper oral care. You can view the report by clicking on the link below.

On January 25, 2013 Council approved amendments to the standards for self-initiation that will affect those wishing to apply for authorization to self-initiate after July 31, 2013. The new criteria registrants are required to meet prior to approval will come into effect August 1, 2013. The most notable change is the addition of a category of authorization that permits registrants to achieve “authorization with conditions”. This category will support those who do not qualify because they have not yet achieved 3200 hours of practice by allowing them to self-initiate as long as they are participating in a mentorship program with a CDHO-approved mentor. For more information, click on the link below to go to our ''Standards of Practice'' webpage.

Feedback Requested by Friday, April 19, 2013
In accordance with Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, the Council of the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is circulating the proposed Drug Regulation to registrants and other stakeholders for comment.

Responses or comments to the proposed Drug Regulation are requested no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, April 19, 2013.

All interested stakeholders are invited to visit the College’s website to review the complete regulation and any reference documents associated with the consultation process.

Unsure if You Have Been Selected to Submit Your Professional Portfolio?

Are you unsure if you have been selected to submit your professional portfolio? Are you unsure of when the last time you were selected was? Registrants can now check online to see if they have been selected or even when their last portfolio submission was. This can be done under the Registration Tab and selecting Registrant Login. Follow the directions to log-in and you should see this:

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) released a new Guideline on the Prevention of Orthopaedic Implant Infection in Patients Undergoing Dental Procedures.
The summary of recommendations is not intended to stand alone. Treatment decisions should be made in light of all circumstances presented by the client. Treatments and procedures applicable to the individual client rely on mutual communication between client, physician, dentist, and other healthcare practitioners.
To view the Guideline and Recommendations...

The Standard of Practice for Self-initiation has been in place since August 2007 and to date, 34% of CDHO registrants have been authorised to self-initiate the controlled act of scaling teeth and root planing, including curettage. A five-year review is now underway to determine if this current standard still meets its objective.
“The objective of the Standard of Practice for Self-initiation is to provide assurance to Ontarians, who choose to have a dental hygienist clean their teeth without an “order” from a dentist, that the dental hygienist is fully competent to do so as safely and effectively as if the procedure were performed under an “order”.”
All stakeholders including registrants, are invited to review the Standard of Practice for Self-initiation, and the three streams and corresponding requirements, and provide any comments they may have to the College by December 30, 2012.
Please send your comments to the attention of Kate Sutherland by e-mail to ksutherland@cdho.org or by post to 69 Bloor St. E, Suite 300, Toronto Ontario M4W 1A9
You can click on the link below to view our current Standard of Practice for Self-initiation.

Did you miss out on the November 7th Setting the Record Straight live WEBINAR? If so, the recorded version is now available to view online. There is no cost associated with viewing this WEBINAR. Please note that since this is a recorded version, the interactive component of the WEBINAR is not available. To view the WEBINAR, click on the link below.

Congratulations are extended to the following registrants who have been elected to serve on the CDHO's Council:

Ms. Heather Blondin has been re-elected as representative for District 7, and Ms. Jeanine Nighswander and Ms. Pauline Leroux have been elected as representatives for District 4. Ms. Ilga St. Onge has been acclaimed in District 8.

Ontario's Seniors Care Strategy - Public Questionnaire

Ontario is moving forward in developing its Seniors Care Strategy, which will help older Ontarians (age 65 and older) stay healthy, live at home longer and receive the right care, at the right time and in the right place. To support the development of this strategy, Dr. Samir Sinha, Expert Lead, Seniors Care Strategy, is asking all Ontarians, but especially older Ontarians, their families and caregivers, and health and social care professionals for their input.

The CDHO recognizes that dental hygienists in Ontario are often challenged by the diversity and number of rules and expectations that apply to the practice of dental hygiene. That’s why this year, the CDHO is travelling across the province once again in an effort to set the record straight, and with all new material for 2012. Attend and get answers to the most common and confusing myths that we all hear circulating in the dental hygiene profession. This presentation is open to dental hygienists and dental hygiene students only. To view the Setting the Record Straight Fall 2012 schedule, click on the link below.

Joint Communication to CDHO Registrants and ODHA Members - May 11, 2012

On May 11, 2012, both the CDHO and ODHA Executive Committees, along with the ODHA Executive Director and the CDHO Interim Registrar held a joint meeting at the CDHO offices in Toronto. Both organizations provided an operational update of the issues they are currently dealing with.

If you are one of the over 500 Ontario residents that passed the NDHCB exam and are planning to practise in Ontario, you must register with the College. To download the registration forms, please click on the link below.

At the June 1, 2012 meeting of council, the following amendments were made to Bylaw No. 4:
Added Section 14.3 The registrant shall notify the College, in writing, of any changes to the following information within fourteen days of the effective date of the change: (iv) an email address, if available
Added Section 16. (7) The penalty fee for reinstatement where the registrant’s certificate was suspended or revoked is up to a maximum of two years annual fees.
Removed Section 22.

The CDHO announces a bursary established in the name of past registrar Fran Richardson to recognize her many years of service and dedication to the College. The bursary promotes leadership within the profession of dental hygiene in Ontario by encouraging practising dental hygienists to develop leadership abilities through education, community involvement and/or other activities.

Mike Connor, the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario President is pleased to announce that Brad Sinclair, BA, will be appointed Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer of the CDHO effective June 4, 2012.
“Brad is an accomplished senior policy professional with extensive healthcare and health sciences experience,” said Connor. “As Executive Director of HealthForceOntario since 2006, Brad has an impressive track record in leading change management processes, building consensus and developing collaborative stakeholder relations.”-

Prior to his appointment at HealthForceOntario, Brad was Chief of Staff for the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and the Executive Director of IMG-Ontario at the University of Toronto. He has also lectured on Health Administration at the University of Toronto and held positions at the Ontario Hospital Association. Brad has a sound knowledge of the legislative framework in Ontario and brings extensive experience in many facets of healthcare, regulatory and government environments.
Mr. Sinclair will assume his responsibilities on June 4th. His predecessor, Ms. Fran Richardson, RDH, BScD, MEd, MTS, announced her retirement effective May 1, 2012 after 17 years of outstanding leadership. Ms. Evelyn Waters, Deputy Registrar, will service as Interim CDHO Registrar and CAO until Brad assumes his responsibilities. Brad is a self-described ‘people person’ and looks forward to working with the collaborative administrative team and staff of the CDHO.

Understanding Cancer

Read about the importance of oral cancer screening in the National Post’s Understanding Cancer pullout from the Tuesday, March 20, 2012 edition.

The amended registration regulations (O. Reg. 218/94 PART VII as amended to O. Reg. 36/12) under the Dental Hygiene Act, 1991 came into force the day they are filed with the government March 26, 2012.There are several new considerations in this regulation...

The CDHO recognizes that dental hygienists in Ontario are often challenged by the diversity and number of rules and expectations that apply to the practice of dental hygiene. That’s why this year the CDHO will be travelling across the province once again in an effort to set the record straight. Attend and get answers to the most common and confusing myths that we all hear circulating in the dental hygiene profession. This presentation is open to dental hygienists and dental hygiene students only. For registration details and to see if Setting the Record Straight will be coming to your area, click on the link below.

In preparation for Oral Health Month in April, the Toronto Star released an Oral Health pullout in its Monday, March 26, 2012 edition. This pullout was released to help educate Ontarians on oral health and taking proper oral care. You can view the report by clicking on the link below.

CDHO Response to Online Petition Against CDHO's Professional Portfolio

The CDHO is, of course, aware of the Petition promoted by a few dental hygienists promoting opposition to the College's Quality Assurance Program. It is regrettable that this Petition and some of the comments it is generating from both within and outside of the profession will reflect very negatively on the professionalism of dental hygiene and of individual dental hygienists. Happily, the petitioners who are actually dental hygienists constitute a small fraction of the profession.

Recently the Registrars of the CDHO and RCDSO and the Executive Directors of the ODHA and ODA met to establish a common understanding of the requirements of the quality assurance programs of dental hygienists and dentists in Ontario. With a Common Voice is a joint publication describing a common understanding of respective quality assurance programs.

Responses or comments to the proposed amendments to Bylaw No. 4, Sections 14.3, 16.7 and 22 are requested no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2012. To view the proposed amendments to Bylaw No. 4 and learn more on where to send your responses, please click on the link below.

Congratulations are extended to the following registrants who will now sit on Council.
Linda Jamieson and Inga McNamara were elected in District 2 for a three-year term.
Jennifer Turner was acclaimed in District 3 for a three-year term.
Nicole Shorey was elected in a District 5 bi-election for a term of two years.
Laura Myers and Catherine Ranson were elected from among full time Academic registrants for a three-year term.

Oral Cancer

Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature death in Ontario. It kills more than 13,500 people each year. That is approximately 300 school buses of people who we will never see again in this lifetime. Erik started smoking when he was 11 years old. Recently, his dental hygienist gave him reason to quit the habit. To learn more about the oral health risks associated with tobacco use, read Erik's story by clicking on the link below.

According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. As the oral care professional clients usually see first, dental hygienists are educated to know the early signs and symptoms of both diabetes and periodontal disease. Essentially, dental hygienists are a first defence in the detection and recognition of both disease processes and in the treatment of associated oral manifestations and periodontal disease. Learn more about Sam’s brush with gum disease by following the link below.

Did you miss out on the November 16th Setting the Record Straight live WEBINAR? If so, the recorded version is now available to view online. There is no cost associated with viewing this WEBINAR. Please note that since this is a recorded version, the interactive component of the WEBINAR is not available. To view the WEBINAR, click on the link below.

Changes in the Quality Assurance Regulation that came into effect on May 18, 2011 have provided the Quality Assurance Committee more flexibility in the selection process. Specifically, the Committee is no longer limited by the 10% restriction on the number of registrants who can be selected and are now able to select registrants using criteria other than the stratified random selection.-

As a result, the Quality Assurance Committee has determined that selection letters will be mailed out in January 2012 to all registrants who graduated prior to 2006 and have not been selected previously in the stratified random selection process. They will be asked to submit their professional portfolio containing their goals and learning activities for 2010, 2011, and 2012 due January 2013 for assessment that year. The remaining unselected registrants will participate in the 2014 assessment. By 2015 all registrants who have been registered for more than three years will have had the opportunity to participate in the portfolio assessment process.

Standards of Practice Regarding Emergency Situations

Dental hygienists in Ontario, regardless of practice setting, are required to adhere to the CDHO regulations and standards. As self-regulated health care professionals, dental hygienists are required to assess their working environment, their client base and the risks involved regarding dental hygiene interventions. Each dental hygienist must make those determinations for her or his self every day.

On May 18, 2011 amendments to Part VI (Quality Assurance) of O. Reg 218/94 under the Dental Hygiene Act, 1991 came into force. The amendments were filed as O. Reg 167/11. The regulation was published on e-laws on May 20, 2011 and it is anticipated that the regulations will be published in the Ontario Gazette on June 4, 2011. The Quality Assurance Program continues to meet the requirements of the amended regulation.

Community Connections for Those in Need of Financial Help with Oral Care Cost

Did you know that in Ontario there are government agencies with programs that may offer financial aid and help eligible children and adults access oral health care. For a list of the agencies and contact information see list below.

New Dental Hygiene Standards of Practice will replace the current version on January 1, 2012 giving registrants a year to familiarize themselves with the document, self-assess their practices in relation to the new Standards and plan for continuing education during 2011 aimed at meeting standards. By January 2012 registrants are expected to verify, to themselves and within their professional portfolios, their ability to perform and apply the knowledge, skills, and judgments that meets the new Standards of Practice, as appropriate to their dental hygiene practice.
The College will use these Standards to aid Committees such as Inquiries, Complaints and Reports, Discipline, and Registration to determine whether appropriate standards of practice and professional responsibilities have been maintained and identify when Specific Education and Remediation Programs might be necessary. They will also be used to guide practice assessments as part of the Quality Assurance Program. Registrants are urged to familiarize themselves with the amended Dental Hygiene Standards of Practice and look for areas of their practice that may need enhancement, seeking the learning opportunities that will prepare them for practice in 2012.